Drain-tile band



' Feb. 18, 1930.

G- F. BUTLER DRAIN TILE BAND Filed Sept. 1, 1927 Patented Feb. 18, 1930 UNITED sr rss GLENN F. BUTLER, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ZEORTY-NINE ONE-HUN- DREDTHS TO CHARLES L. HAMAN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN DRAIN-TILE BAND 7 Application filed September 1, 1927. Serial No. 2165879.

This invention relates to means for holding the adjacent ends of drain tiles in alignment, .the principal object being to provide a device that will be simple in construction,

easilyapplied and economical to manufacture.

Another object is to provide a device for holding the ends of drain tiles in alignment, preventing dirt from entering the joint be- ,10 tween the'tiles, and providing passages for the flow of water to'such joints. I

A further object is to provide a device for holding the adjacent ends of drain tiles inralignment comprising a band of metal adapted to surround the adjacent ends of tiles in over-lappingrelationship with respect to the joint between the same'and formed to provide passages between the band and the tile for carrying water to such oint.

The above being among the objects of the present invention, the same consists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawing, and

I 5 then claimed, having the above and other ob j e'cts in view.

In the accompanying drawing which shows a suitable embodiment of the present invention and in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several different views, I Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a pair of drain tiles, the ends of which are held in alignment by the device of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on theline 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1, showing the manner in which the ends of the band are secured together about the tile. V

Fig. 4is a plan view of the band. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the band tipped up to disclose the corrugated form of the same. V

Fig. 6 is a plan View of a modified form of the endwconstruction for the band illustrated in the preceding figures.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view so taken on the line 7--7. of Fig. 2 illustrating the method of application of the modified construction shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional View taken as on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing the application of the modification shown in Fig. 6. 1

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 9 9 of Fig. 4 illustrating the manner in which the end of the band member is preferably formed. I

Fig. 10 is a sectional view as on the line 2'2 of Fig. 1 showinga modified form of band construction.

In the use of drain tiles it is a frequent occurrence to find that the adjacent ends of the tiles are out of alignment, thus having per mitted earthto enter the interior of the tiles and plug the same. When such condition has occurred it is invariably necessary to dig up the tiles, clean them out and replace them, which operation entails considerable time, labor and expense. Such misalignment invariably occurs whenthe tiles are first laid or shortly thereafter on account ,of the earth not being properly tampedwhereby upon back filling or consequent settling of the earth the tiles move and get out of their re spective aligned positions. It also often occurs that the tiles are not fitted together properly when laid with the result that an abnormal spaceis left between the same through. which earthmay find its way and eventually plug the tiles. I

By the presentinvention I provide a device which eliminates misalignment of, the tiles and prevents the earth from finding a free passage through the joints between the tiles. As illustrative of the present invention I show in the accompanying drawinga pair of tiles 15 and '16 in axial alignment and hav ing their ends in substantially abutting relationship but spacedsufliciently from each other so that the joint'17 between thesame alfords a passage for water from the exterior to the interior of the tiles. Surrounding the ends of the tiles 15 and 16 over the joint 17 is a strip of material 18 incorporating the present invention. As best shown in Figs. 4 and 5 this strip which ispreferably made of metal, but may be made of other suitable material, is provided between its ends-with a series of corrugations 19, the corrugations 19 extending preferably t6 adj acent each end thereof. One end of the band is formed to provide}atransverse strap 20 extending be: tween theends above the surface of'thelstrip V 18. The oppositeend of the strip 18 is cut away to provide .an elongated tongue 21,

. preferablyof'less width at'its'outer end than the band 18 is drawn tightly about the tiles 15 21 is'bent back to locked position.

at its inner end and in order to be more readily-inserted'under the strap 20.

In practice when the tiles such as 15 and 16 are being laid, the strip 18 is placed around the tile over the joint17betweenthe same,

the tongue 21 is inserted beneaththe strap 20, the strip or band 18 is drawn tightly into contact with the tiles 15 and 16, and the end of the tongue-21 projectingthrough the strap 20 is then reversely bentupwardly and back on itself over the strapi20, thereby locking preventing misalignment of such ends. At thefsame "timeit'is' sufficiently wide to protect the joint '17 fron'ri'the entrance of earth when the j oint 17 *is abnormally wide. The

. corrugationsll) on the underside of the band provide passages leading from the edges of the band 18 tothe joint 17 through which water inthe earth around the tile may'travel' and find its'way throughthe 0int 17 into the interior ofthe tiles and.bejcarriedaway. If

desired the tongue 21' ma be provided with a plurality ofupstandingprojections 22, as best indicated in Fig.f9, so that when the tongue2 1 is inserted below the "strap 20 and and16,'"the projections 22 will engage the edges of the strap 20 'and prevent the band from loosening up untilthe end of the tongue f desired tongues or downwardly extending projectionsmay-be formed on the strip or band 18 along the center line thereof for reception in the joint 17 in orderto prevent any possibility 'ofaxialdisplacement of the band i 18 in respect to the joint 17 andthereby ex;

pose thejoint directly to the earth. The

projections maybe formed as indicated in I Figs; 6, 7 and 8 in whicha tongue 23. is shown as struck, out of the metalof the band itself and bent inwardly where it is received in the joint 17: between'the tiles 15. and 16. 1 I prefer 7 to employ but one projection 23 and to form the same between the strap 20 and the adjacent end. of the band18 so that the opening left in the band 18 by the formation of the projection 23 will be covered by the tongue 21 when it is inserted beneath the strap 20 in securing the band 18 about a joint suchas 17. It will be understoodyof course, that a plurality of these projeictions maybe employed s5 when desired.

In Fig. 10 I show a furthermodified form of band construction. The band 24 in that view is of sheet metal similar to the band 18,

V of corrugations'such as the corrugation 19 in the band 18, it is providedwith a plurality of projections'25 formed by depressing the outersurface ofthe band 2 1 at a plurality of i V spaced points thereby providingagplurality of points for contact agamst the t1les15 and 16 instead of the plurality of lines as in the case of the band 18. 1

While I have illustrated in the drawing a band corrugated between its ends to provide drainage passages, to thejoint 17 ,7 itwill be apparent that'such passages are necessary only 'on thesurface ofthe'band which contacts against the tiles and therefore that if grooves are formed in such surface the function of the band will not be impaired'in any;

respect.

though I-have shown the present invention in the form' of a flexible band, flat in original shape, the same maybe made of two or more parts and of rigid construction and joined together in order to accomplish the purpose above described or it may be originally V ployed in the particular method of joining the ends of the same together about; the joint-17 and'in overlapping.relationship with respect thereto is immaterial asfar'as the. present ins vention is concerned, and any suitableme'thod P y d Formal'changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the invention described with- V out departing fromjthe spirit orsubstance ofthe broad invention, the scope ofwhich is commensurate with the appended claims."

What I claim is:

1. A' device for holding the adjacent ends of drain tilesin alignment comprising a fi exible band formed from sheet metal adapted to overlap said joint, said band being formed to provide drain passages betweenjthe same and said tiles extending 'angularly'with respect to the length of said band.

2. A device for holding the adjacent ends of drain tiles in matching'relationship comprising a flexible band adapted-to be bent around said tiles in overlapping relationship with respect to the joint between the same,

and being" corrugated to provide water passages leading from the edges 'ofsaid band t 'saidjoint. v

3. A device for holding'the adjacent ends i of drain tiles in. matching relationship com prisinga strip ofmetal'transversely corrugated between its ends andformed to provide a tongue at one end and a strap at theother end, said strip adaptedlto be placed around said tiles iii-overlapping relationship in're- 85 It will also be understood that al 100: forsecuringsuchends together'maybe emj spect to the joint between the same with said tongue received in said strap and reversely bent to prevent dislocation of said strip.

4. A device for maintaining the adjacent ends of drain tiles in alignment comprising a band received about said tiles in overlapping relationship with respect to the joint between the same, drain passages formed in said band for conducting water to said joint, and means for preventing axial displacement of said band.

5. A device for holding drain tiles in alignment comprising a band corrugated between its ends and adapted to fit around the adjacent ends of a pair of tiles in overlapping relationship to the joint between the same, and an inwardly extending tongue on said band adapted to be received in said joint for maintaining said overlapping relationship of said band.

6. A device for holding the ends of drain tiles in alignment comprising a strip of metal provided with a transverse strap at one end and a tongue at the other end, said strip adapted to extend around said tiles in overlapping relationship in respect to the joint between the same, and a projection struck out of the metal of said strip between said strap and the adjacent end of said strip and bent inwardly for reception of saidjoint, theopening left in said strip by the formation of said projection being covered by said tongue when received by said strap for the purpose of holding said strip in position around said tiles.

7 A device for holding the ends of drain tiles in alignment comprising a strip of metal corrugated between its ends and provided with a transverse strap at one end and an extended tongue at the other end, said strip adapted to be placed about the adjacent ends of a pair of tiles in overlapping relationship aligned and substantially abutting drain tiles,

a flexible band surrounding said tiles in substantially equally disposed relationship with respect to the joint between the same, said band being transversely corrugated to provide drain passages leading to said joint. 1

9. Means for holding the adjacent ends of drain tiles in alignment comprising, in combination, a relatively narrow strip of flexible material adapted to encircle the adjacent edges of a pair of aligned tiles, means for securing the free ends of said band together about said tiles, and means for holding at least that portion of the main body of said band in radial alignment with the joint between said tiles outwardly spaced from the outer surface of said tiles, said band formed to permit the passage of water exterior thereto to said joint.

GLENN F. BUTLER. 

